the red cross girl-第7章

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the　pretty　romance　he　had　woven　about　her　had　ended　in
disasterfilled；　him　with　real　regret。　He　was　glad　he　was；；
leaving　New　York。　He　was　glad　he　was　going；　where　nothing
would　remind　him　of　her。　And　then　he　glanced　upand　looked
straight　into　her　eyes！

He　was　seated　in　the　front　row；　directly　on　the　aisle。　The
seat　Sister　Anne　was　supposed　to　be　occupying　was　on　his
right；　and　a　few　seats　farther　to　his　right　rose　the　stage
box　and　in　the　stage　box；　and　in　the　stage　box；　almost　upon
the　stage；　and　with　the　glow　of　the　foot…lights　full　in　her
face；　was　Anita　Flagg；　smiling　delightedly　down　on　him。　There
were　others　with　her。　He　had　a　confused　impression　of　bulging
shirt…fronts；　and　shining　silks；　and　diamonds；　and　drooping
plumes　upon　enormous　hats。　He　thought　he　recognized　Lord
Deptford　and　Holworthy；　but　the　only　person　he　distinguished
clearly　was　Anita　Flagg。　The　girl　was　all　in　black　velvet；
which　was　drawn　to　her　figure　like　a　wet　bathing　suit；　round
her　throat　was　a　single　string　of　pearls；　and　on　her　hair　of
golden…rod　was　a　great　hat　of　black　velvet；　shaped　like　a
bell；　with　the　curving　lips　of　a　lily。　And　from　beneath　its
brim　Anita　Flagg；　sitting　rigidly　erect　with　her　white…gloved
hands　resting　lightly　on　her　knee；　was　gazing　down　at　him；
smiling　with　pleasure；　with　surprise；　with　excitement。

When　she　saw　that；　in　spite　of　her　altered　appearance；　he
recognized　her；　she　bowed　so　violently　and　bent　her　head　so
eagerly　that　above　her　the　ostrich　plumes　dipped　and
courtesied　like　wheat　in　a　storm。　But　Sam　neither　bowed　nor
courtesied。　Instead；　he　turned　his　head　slowly　over　his　left
shoulder；　as　though　he　thought　she　was　speaking　not　to　him
but　some　one　beyond　him；　across　the　aisle。　And　then　his　eyes
returned　to　the　stage　and　did　not　again　look　toward　her。　It
was　not　the　cut　direct；　but　it　was　a　cut　that　hurt；　and　in
their　turn　the　eyes　of　Miss　Flagg　quickly　sought　the　stage。
At　the　moment；　the　people　in　the　audience　happened　to　be
laughing；　and　she　forced　a　smile　and　then　laughed　with　them。

Out　of　the　corner　of　his　eye　Sam　could　not　help　seeing　her
profile　exposed　pitilessly　in　the　glow　of　the　foot…lights；
saw　her　lips　tremble　like　those　of　a　child　about　to　cry；　and
then　saw　the　forced；　hard　smileand　heard　her　laugh　lightly
and　mechanically。

〃That's　all　she　cares。〃　he　told　himself。

It　seemed　to　him　that　in　all　he　heard　of　her；　in　everything
she　did；　she　kept　robbing　him　still　further　of　all　that　was
dear　to　him　in　Sister　Anne。

For　five　minutes；　conscious　of　the　foot…lights；　Miss　Flagg
maintained　upon　her　lovely　face　a　fixed　and　intent
expression；　and　then　slowly　and　unobtrusively　drew　back　to　a
seat　in　the　rear　of　the　box。　In　the'　darkest　recesses　she
found　Holworthy；　shut　off　from　a　view　of　the　stage　by　a
barrier　of　women's　hats。

〃Your　friend　Mr。　Ward；〃　she　began　abruptly；　in　a　whisper；　〃is
the　rudest；　most　ill…bred　person　I　ever　met。　When　I　talked　to
him　the〃　other　day　I　thought　he　was　nice。　He　was　nice；　But　he
has　behaved　abominablylike　a　boorlike　a　sulky　child。　Has
he　no　sense　of　humor？　Because　I　played　a　joke　on　him；　is
that　any　reason　why　he　should　hurt　me？〃

〃Hurt　you？〃　exclaimed　little　Holworthy　in　amazement。　〃Don't
be　ridiculous！　How　could　he　hurt　you？　Why　should　you　care　how
rude　he　is？　Ward's　a　clever　fellow；　but　he　fancies　himself。
He's　conceited。　He's　too　good…looking；　and　a　lot　of　silly
women　have　made　such　a　fuss　over　him。　So　when　one　of　them
laughs　at　him　he　can't　understand　it。　That's　the　trouble。　I
could　see　that　when　I　was　telling　him。〃

〃Telling　him！〃　repeated　Miss　Flagg〃Telling　him　what？〃

〃About　what　a　funny　story　you　made　of　it；〃　explained
Holworthy。　〃About　his　having　the　nerve　to　ask　you　to　feed　the
monkeys　and　to　lunch　with　him。〃

Miss　Flagg　interrupted　with　a　gasping　intake　of　her　breath。

〃Oh！〃　she　said　softly。　〃So…so　you　told　him　that；　did　you？
Andwhat　else　did　you　tell　him？〃　；

〃Only　what　you　told　usthat　he　said　'the　day　could　not　begin
too　soon'；　that　he　said　he　wouldn't　let　you　be　a　manicure　and
wash　the　hands　of　men　who　weren't　fit　to　wash　the　streets　you
walked　on。〃

There　was　a　pause。

〃Did　I　tell　you　he　said　that？〃　breathed　Anita　Flagg。

〃You　know　you　did；〃　said　Holworthy。

There　was　another　pause。

〃I　must　have　been　mad！〃　said　the　girl。

There　was　a　longer　pause　and　Holworthy　shifted　uneasily。

〃I'm　afraid　you　are　angry；〃　he　ventured。

〃Angry！〃　exclaimed　Miss　Flagg。　〃I　should　say　I　was
angry；　but　not　with　you。　I'm　very　much　pleased　with　you。　At
the　end　of　the　act　I'm　going　to　let　you　take　me　out　into　the
lobby。〃

With　his　arms　tightly　folded；　Sam　sat　staring　unhappily　at
the　stage　and　seeing　nothing。　He　was　sorry　for　himself
because　Anita　Flagg　had　destroyed　his　ideal　of　a　sweet　and
noble　womanand　he　was　sorry　for　Miss　Flagg　because　a　man
had　been　rude　to　her。　That　he　happened　to　be　that　man　did　not
make　his　sorrow　and　indignation　the　less　intense；　and；
indeed；　so　miserable　was　he　and　so　miserable　were　his　looks；
that　his　friends　on　the　stage　considered　sending　him　a　note；
offering；　if　he　would　take　himself　out　of　the　front　row；　to
give　him　back　his　money　at　the　box　office。　Sam　certainly
wished　to　take　himself　away；　but　he　did　not　want　to　admit
that　he　was　miserable；　that　he　had　behaved　ill；　that　the
presence　of　Anita　Flagg　could　spoil　his　eveningcould；　in
the　slightest　degree　affect　him。　So　he　sat；　completely
wretched；　feeling　that　he　was　in　a　false　position；　that　if　he
were　it　was　his　own　fault；　that　he　had　acted　like　an　ass　and
a　brute。　It　was　not　a　cheerful　feeling。

When　the　curtain　fell　he　still　remained　seated。　He　knew
before　the　second　act　there　was　an　interminable　wait；　but　he
did　not　want　to　chance　running　into　Holworthy　in　the　lobby
and　he　told　himself　it　would　be　rude　to　abandon　Sister　Anne。
But　he　now　was　not　so　conscious　of　the　imaginary　Sister　Anne
as　of　the　actual　box　party　on　his　near　right；　who　were
laughing　and　chattering　volubly。　He　wondered　whether　they
laughed　at　himwhether　Miss　Flagg　were　again　entertaining
them　at　his　expense；　again　making　his　advances　appear
ridiculous。　He　was　so　sure　of　it　that　he　flushed
indignantly。　He　was　glad　he　had　been　rude。

And　then；　at　his　elbow；　there　was　the　rustle　of　silk；　and　a
beautiful　figure；　all　in　black　velvet；　towered　above　him；
then　crowded　past　him；　and　sank　into　the　empty　seat　at　his
side。　He　was　too　startled　to　speakand　Miss　Anita　Flagg
seemed　to　understand　that　and　to　wish　to　give　him　time；　for；
without　regarding　him　in　the　least；　and　as　though　to
establish　the　fact　that　she　had　come　to　stay；　she　began
calmly　and　deliberately　to　remove　the　bell…like　hat。　This
accomplished；　she　bent　toward　him；　her　eyes　looking　straight
into　his；　her　smile　reproaching　him。　In　the　familiar　tone　of
an　old　and　dear　friend　she　said　to　him　gently：

〃This　is　the　day　you　planned　for　me。　Don't　you　think　you've
wasted　quite　enough　of　it？〃

Sam　looked　back　into　the　eyes；　and　saw　in　them　no　trace　of
laughter　or　of　mockery；　but；　instead；　gentle　reproof　and
appealand　something　else　that；　in　turn；　begged　of　him　to　be
gentle。

For　a　moment；　too　disturbed　to　speak；　he　looked　at　her；
miserably；　remorsefully。

〃It's　not　Anita　Flagg　at　all；〃　he　said。　〃It's　Sister　Anne
come　back　to　life　again！〃　The　girl　shook　her　head。

〃No；　it's　Anita　Flagg。　I'm　not　a　bit　like　the　girl　you
thought　you　met　and　I　did　say　all　the；　things　Holworthy　told
you　I　said；　but　that　was　before　I　understoodbefore　I　read
what　you　wrote　about　Sister　Anneabout　the　kind　of　me　you
thought　you'd　met。　When　I　read　that　I　knew　what　sort　of　a　man
you　were。　I　knew　you　had　been　really　kind　and　gentle；　and　I
knew　you　had　dug　out　something　that　I　did　not　know　was
therethat　no　one　else　had　found。　And　I　remembered　how　you
called　me　Sister。　I　mean　the　way　you　said　it。　And　I　wanted　to
hear　it　again。　I　wanted　you　to　say　it。〃

She　lifted　her　face　to　his。　She　was　very　near　himso　near
that　her　shoulder　brushed　against　his　arm。　In　the　box　above
them　her　friends；　scandalized　and　amused；　were　watching　her
with　the　greatest　interest。　Half　of　the　people　in　the　now
half…empty　house　were　watching　them　with　the　greatest
interest。　To　them；　between　reading　advertisements　on　the
programme　and　watching　Anita　Flagg　making　desperate　love　to　a
lucky　youth　in　the　front　row；　there　was　no　question　of　which
to　choose。

The　young　people　in　the　front　row　did　not　know　they　were
observed。　They　were　aloneas　much　alone　as　though　they　were
seated　in　a　biplane；　sweeping　above　the　clouds。

〃Say　it　again；〃　prompted　Anita　Flagg　〃Sister。〃

〃I　will　not！〃　returned　the　young　man　firmly。　〃But　I'll　say
this；〃　he　whispered：　〃I'll　say　you're　the　most　wonderful；　the
most　beautiful；　and　the　finest　woman　who　has　ever　lived！〃

Anita　Flagg's　eyes　left　his　quickly；　and；　with　her　head　bent；
she　stared　at　the　bass　drum　in　the　orchestra。

〃I　don't　know；〃　she　said；　〃but　that　sounds　just　as　good。〃

When　the　curtain　was　about　to　rise　she　told　him　to　take　her
back　to　her　box；　so　that　he　could　meet　her　friends　and　go　on
with　them　to　supper；　but　when　they　reached　the　rear　of　the
house　she　halted。

〃We　can　see　this　act；〃　she　said；　〃ormy　car's　in　front　of
the　theatrewe　might　go　to　the　park　and　take　a　turn　or　two
or　three。　Which　would　you　prefer？〃

〃Don't　make　me　laugh！〃　said　Sam。

As　they　sat　all　together　at　supper　with　those　of　the　box
party；　but　paying　no　attention　to　them　whatsoever；　Anita
Flagg　sighed　contentedly。

〃There's　only　one　thing；〃　she　said　to　Sam；　〃that　is　making　me
unhappy；　and　because　it　is　such　sad　news　I　haven't　told　you。

It　is　this：　I　am　leaving　America。　I　am　going　to　spend　the
winter　in　London。　I　sail　next　Wednesday。〃

〃My　business　is　to　gather　news；〃　said　Sam；　but　in　all　my　life
I　never　gathered　such　good　news　as　that。〃

〃Good　news！〃　exclaimed　Anita。

〃Because；〃　explained　Sam；　〃I　am　leaving；　Americaam
spending　the　winter　in　England。　I　am　sailing　on　Wednesday。
No；　I　also　am　unhappy；　but　that　is　not　what　makes　me
unhappy。〃

〃Tell　me；〃　begged　Anita。

〃Some　day；〃　said　Sam。

The　day　he　chose　to　tell　her　was　the　first　day　they　were　at
seaas　they　leaned　upon　the　rail；　watching　Fire　Island
disappear。

〃This　is　my　unhappiness；〃　said　Samand　he　pointed　to　a　name
on　the　passenger　list。　It　was：　〃The　Earl　of　Deptford；　and
valet。〃　〃And　because　he　is　on　board！〃

Anita　Flagg　gazed　with　interest　at　a　pursuing　sea…gull。

〃He　is　not　on　board；〃　she　said。　〃He　changed　to　another　boat。〃

Sam　felt　that　by　a　word　from　her　a　great　weight　might　be
lifted　from　his　soul。　He　looked　at　her　appealinglyhungrily。

〃Why　did　he　change？〃　he　begged。

Anita　Flagg　shook　her　head　in　wonder。　She　smiled　at　him　with
amused　despair。

〃Is　that　all　that　is　worrying　you？〃　she　said。



Chapter　2。　THE　GRAND　CROSS　OF　THE　CRESCENT

Of　some　college　students　it　has　been　said　that；　in　order　to
pass　their　examinations；　they　will　deceive　and　cheat　their
kind　professors。　This　may　or　may　not　be　true。　One　only　can
shudder　and　pass　hurriedly　on。　But　whatever　others　may　have
done；　when　young　Peter　Hallowell　in　his　senior　year　came　up
for　those　final　examinations　which；　should　he　pass　them　even
by　a　nose；　would　gain　him　his　degree；　he　did　not　cheat。　He